Lake Monger Primary School cooks up stronger student connections

Students at Lake Monger Primary School in Perth, Western Australia, are now enjoying the benefits of a new commercial oven in their P&C volunteer-run canteen, thanks to support from Kinetic’s Moving Communities Fund.

Located in Wembley, the school is home to more than 300 students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, and children with disabilities.

With many parents balancing full-time study and work, the school’s canteen has long played an essential role in providing nutritious, affordable meals to students who might otherwise miss out.

Until recently, that role came with big challenges. The canteen’s old oven had only one working shelf, which meant the canteen manager could only cook about ten meals at a time. Meals had to be rotated through air fryers and warmers to keep up, and baking was completely off the menu. Catering for more than 60 students out of a total of 340 was nearly impossible.

Now, with the new oven installed, the school’s canteen has been transformed. For the first time, the canteen manager is now able to cook all meal orders at the same time, saving time and keeping food fresh. The team has even started planning a brand-new menu and have started offering baked menu items.

Lake Monger Primary School Parents and Citizens Association Incorporated Secretary Claire Stevens said receiving the grant was a transformative moment for our P&C.

“With this support, we are delighted to be able to purchase a new oven for our canteen, which will enable us to prepare low cost, nutritious meals to our students,” she said.

“This improvement will not only support our students’ health and wellbeing but also enhance their learning by ensuring they have access to wholesome food.

“This support will benefit our school and strengthen the broader community we serve, helping us build a brighter future together."

Kinetic Executive General Manager (WA) Sarah Ismail said the tangible benefits already felt by the students showed how small changes could make a big difference.

“It’s inspiring to see how a simple kitchen upgrade can ripple through a whole school community, helping students feel supported and ready to learn each day,” she said.

“It’s not just hungry tummies being filled, it’s about creating new opportunities for connection across the school community, and is exactly what we love to see our Moving Communities Fund supporting."

For Lake Monger families, the simple act of sharing a freshly prepared meal has become a symbol of care and community, showing how the right support can help every child thrive.